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Electrical Wiring

Outdoor lighting fixture problem

15 years ago

I replaced 3 old outdoor light fixtures, all on same switch, with new ones. I turned off power to house, removed old fixtures and hooked up new fixtures - white to white, black to black, wire nuts, and electric tape for added protection,and grounded it to mounting bracket. Secured them to house. Turned on power and they all worked fine all day yesterday. The next day one of the lights was out. I assumed the bulb was bad, so I replaced it with a bulb I knew was good and still would not turn on. If I wired it incorrectly, shouldn't it have failed to light in the beginning? I checked circuit breakers and none have tripped. The old light had worked fine for the last 20 years. Is it possible that I bought a defective light fixture? If so, is there any way to test it first before I pull it off the wall to replace it? Is this a normal occurance, or am I one of the unlucky few that bought a "bad" new light? For now, I will keep off all 3 lights until problem is fixed. Also, wanted to mention that I installed dusk to dawn photo eye sockets in each of the fixtures - don't know if that makes any difference at all. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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Comments (4)

davidandkasie
15 years ago
may be the photocell. put a piece of tape over the eye and see if it comes on in a few minutes. if so, then the eye is getting too much light from one of the others or itself. if not, bypass the eye and see if teh light works.
stevie1118
Original Author
15 years ago
I did test the light fixture with and without the photocells and still get nothing. Any idea why light would stop working after just 1 day?
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Provided as you keep the receipt, Home Depot will let you return anything for almost any reason for 90 days, it seems there isn't much of a gamble here. Just remember that most wall timers will require a neutral in the box. The few that don't won't work with CFL or LED lamps. I have no idea if there are "premium" wall timers but I had an Intermatic years ago that would fail ever 12 months. It had a 3 year warranty but that required sending it in. I just replaced it and returned the old one to Home Depot as "defective." I think I did that for about 8 years. <lol>
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you can disconnect the one, you want to move, and hopefully get at it from inside the garage and drill new hole for the wire through the brick, and the plate appears long enough to hide the hole where the wire is now. Since you sound a bit inexperienced, I would call an electrician, to do this for you. I do agree, one should be moved. Whichever is the easiest one to get at from inside the garage.
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davidandkasie
15 years ago
bad connection most likely. a light is the simplest of all electrical appliances. send it power and it will turn on. you need to check ALL connections.
dezwit
15 years ago
Make sure the power is off, stick a small screwdriver into the socket and gently pry the "tongue" in the bottom up just a hair.
The contact may be bent down too far and not be making contact with the lamp.

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